Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-30
TGRE EOeJEO.
Particulars oitac SwanlplnS orfne
steamer.


4 UcroN cable dispatch from Guile
Acuf. near Yii!cquier. on the Seine, oil
september 23d, says: The loss of the
British steamer Romeo, winch, after it
bad stranded at LGvacquerie, pear this
Little town, Was swanped at midnight
yesterday. las added seven moro souls
90 the long list OF victims annually
swallowed up by the mascaret. Among
the seven vas e Liverpool solicitor, Mr..
Oldham. The rest formed part Of the
cleW.
Mr.. Rowiinr, owner Of the Romeo,
Which was a magnificent vessel, built
IN 1853, bad a terrible struggle with the
waves, Lut managed to escape.
THE OWNERS STORY.
The story he tells of his fight for life
is stntireiy dramatic.
The mascarct was due ut Lavacque-
rie little before midnight, hut Captain
Williams, tie commander of the Ro-
moo, supposed that the position Of his
vessel would enable il to resist the ex-
rcctcd shock. Mr.. Bowring Was on
deck when tsc disaster occurred.
Through tAo darkness" inc saws,
amid tremendous nols,, We Sudden
~ perceived "a white wall ten feet high
GmIirg the Seine, and advancing ut
lightning speed The first wave
knocked the vessel round, shifting her
position SO that She lay athwart the
stream. The second wave SWamDtd
Aor altogether.
HOW TlE GREW FAEED.
u was on the bridge with my poor
friend Oldham, the captain, and seve-
raj men when We were caught by the
rush 81 water and hurried into the river
with the sailors who happened TO be on
deck. Six poor fellows, mostly Scandi-
naviaus, sank to the bottom. The
shock was so violent that Oldham
Was washed against some Ratings
and broke his leg. Two sailors
hurried to his assistance and plunged
into the stream after him, re-
gardless Of danger, but the cur
rent and swept HIM away. l heard ali
THIS later, foI the violence Of the flood
had carried Inc along distance from the
vessel. | lad on pair Of heavy huut-
ibg boots, while over thick SUIT had
an Mister which paralyzed my move.
ments. There seemed absolutely no
chance for me, but ! did not give in,
and struck cut desperately for dear life.
For IN hour ana quarter I managed
to keep aEoat, battling with the tide,
which prevented my approaching
tie shore, even il l could have seen
it. Ny ankles and wrists were covered
with bruises and my clothes were all
torn to rags when l at last succeeded
in making the north bank and sank
down in d meadow flooded with water.
Rising ! stumbled on straight ahead,
half dead with fatigue, till 1 reached
road which led mo to Niilequier, where
I took shelter at IN inn. Ii was then o
quorttr past 2. Other survivors owed
their escape to having taken refuge on
the keel Of the steamer"
NJ. PLANTATION INTERVIEWED.
"The mascaret had, as usual, attracted
hundreds Of sightseers- artists, scien-
lists, and tOurists-from Paris. Many
make n point Of never missing the
magnificent spectacle. Among them
was NJ. Camille Fiammarion, the well
known astronomer, whom | have Just
interviewed NJ. F'lammarion, who has
lust published new book "Dans le
Ciel ct Sur IL Terre," was full OF the
subject. On my asking the scientific
explanation Of the mascaret he said:
The mascaret, or Ia barre, Is caused
bv the collision OF the Seine and the
sea at exceptionally high tides. The
Seine, flowing TRANQUILITY toward the
ocean, meets II strange obstacle-sud-
denly finds its course barred. The
ocean opposes its passage. The Seine
struggles, resists, oyerilows right and
left, and tries 10 get by, but, rising
like a dense, impenetrable wall, the
ocean furiously forces the river to roll
back impetuouSly in a seething mass
often several yards high twenty-five
kilometres toward its source, destroy
ing buildings and swapping vessels on
its course. In an instant the peaceful
river seems transformed into a boiling
sea. Woe betide the luckless traveller
who tries TO cross the stream Just then.
VICTOR HUGo's DAUGHTER LOST HERE.
'You remember what happened to
the daughter OF Victor Hugo and her
husband, Charles Vacqueri They
wererowiDg at Villequier one day forty
four years ago when they were sur
pIised by the mascaret and drowned,
with a man and boy who accompa-
MED them.
"1he food passes in five minutes,
bnt the phenomenon Is repeated three